As much as we do to protect our pets, accidents still happen. Knowing how to administer CPR to your pet is an important way to prepare for any unexpected situations in their lives.
As we all know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can help a dog that has stopped breathing. What you may not have known is that CPR on dogs is very similar to the procedure that’s done on humans. To remember your CPR steps, follow the ‘ABC’ rule of thumb. Just make sure that your pet is not breathing or doesn’t have a pulse before you begin CPR. It’s also important to follow the ‘A-B-C’ steps in that exact order, and as outlined below.
A – Airways
Check to make sure your dog’s throat and mouth are clear of foreign objects. Lay your dog on their side and gently tilt the head slightly back to extend their neck and head. Pull their tongue forward out of their mouth. Search the mouth and throat for any objects and carefully remove them.
B – Breathing
Close your dog’s mouth with your hand and place your mouth over your dog’s nose. Exhale forcefully, giving 4-5 quick breaths. If breathing hasn’t begun and you see their chest isn’t rising, do the following:
- Hold your dog’s head down with their back against your chest
- Give 5 sharp squeezes to the abdomen
- Lay your dog down and look again for anything caught in the airway
Continue rescue breathing, looking for a heart beat every minute. For dogs less than 30lbs, give 20-30 breathes per minute. For dogs over 30lbs, give 20 breathes per minute.
C – Circulation (or Compression)
Make sure your pet is on a hard surface as chest compressions will not be as effective on a soft surface. Locate your pet’s heart by bending your dog’s left arm and pulling it back to the chest. Kneel down next to your pet and place your cupped palm over their ribs at the point where their raised elbow meets their chest. Follow the below steps:
For dogs less than 30 pounds
- Compress the chest about 1 inch at a rate of twice per second
- Apply 5 compressions for each breath
For dogs between 30 - 100 pounds
- Compress the chest about 2-3 inches at a rate of 1.5-2 times per second
- Apply 5 compressions for each breath
For dogs over 100 pounds
- Compress the chest once per second
- Apply 10 compressions for each breath
After each minute, regardless of the size of your dog, stop and check for a heartbeat. CPR doesn’t restart a stopped heart, but it can keep pets alive until a heart begins beating on its own, or a cardiac defibrillator is used. Pet owners should be aware that even when CPR is performed by a veterinarian, it’s not always successful; however, this should not deter anyone from trying in an emergency situation. Attempting CPR can give your pup a fighting chance.
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